Trace-holder for swingletrees.



No. 838,871. .PA-TENTED DEG. l8,-1906. v G. LAUBE. I

TRACE HOLDER FOR SWINGLBTRBES.

APPLICATION PILED APB. 4. 1906.

THE-NORRIS PETERS cm. wasmnc A4. a L.

UNITED STATE$ PATENT OFFIQE.

GODFRIED LAUBE, OF SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO ALBERT VANDENBURG, OF HURON SOUTH DAKOTA.

a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 18, 1906.

Application filed April 4:, 1906. Serial No. 309,84f5.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GODFRIED LAUBE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Santa Monica, in the county of'Los Angcles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trace-Holders for Swingletrees, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in trace-holders for swingletrees; and the invention has for its primary object to provide positive and reliable means for effectually and temporarily holding the end of a trace or tug upon the end of a swingletree.

To this end I have devised a simple and inexpensive hook-shaped member which is pivotally mounted upon the end of a swingletree, the hook-shaped portion of the member being adapted to span the end of a trace or tug and engagein the end of a swingletree, thus preventing the end of a trace or tug from becoming detached or displaced from the end of a swingletree. In connection with the hook-shaped member I use a novel form of look for retaining the hook-shaped member in an open and closed position, said lock being positive in its action and free from all danger of being injured by constant use.

The detail construction entering into my invention will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and referring to the drawings accompanying this application like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the end of a swingletree constructed in accordance with my invention, illustrating the end of a trace or tug locked thereon. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, illustrating the hoolz-shaped member of the swingletree in a closed position in full lines and in an open position in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a swingletree constructed. in accordance with my invention, illustrating the lock thereof. Fig. 4 is a similar view, and Fig. 5 is a plan of my improved traceholder.

To put my invention into practice, I provide the end of the swingletree 1 with a vertiflanged sides 8 8, which conform to the periphery of the swingletreel and are secured to said swingletree by screws 9 9 or similar fastening means. The sides of the casing are slotted, as at 10 10, forming resilient portions 11 11, the object of which will be presently described.

In the smaller end of the casing 7 is pivotally mounted a hook-shaped member 12, the forward end of the hook-shaped member being flattened, as at 14, to form a depending resilient end 15 upon the hook-shaped member, which is tapered and notched, as at 16, to engage the flanged opening 5 of the escutcheon-plate 3.

hen the hook shaped member 12 is opened to permit of the slotted end of a trace or tug 17 being placed upon the end of a swingletree, the hook-shaped member is held in an elevated position by the resilient portions 11 11 of the casing 7, this being clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. l/Vhen the hook-shaped member is in a lowered position and having its tapering notched resilient end engaging the escutcheon-plate 3 to retain the trace or tug upon the swingletree, the hook-shaped member is retained in its lowered position by the resilient portions 11 11 of the casing 7, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The slotted sides of the casing 7 permit of the resilient portions 11 11 of said casing receding as the hook-shaped member 12 is moved up and down Within said casing, the portions 11 11 receding inwardly to hold the hook-shaped member 12 in a raised position, while their extended position retains the hook-shaped member in a lowered position. To further insure the hook-shaped member being retained in a lowered position when a trace or tug is upon the swingletree 1, I have provided the resilient end 15 to engage the escu-tcheon-plate 3 and prevent this end of -the hook-shaped member from'raising unless the same is firmly gripped and con siderable energy isexpended: to force the hook-shaped member out of engagement with the escutcheon-plate 3.

The locking feature of the hook-shaped member of my improved trace-holder is of paramount importance in the present appli What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, i.s

The combination with a swingletree having an opening in its outer end, of an escutcheonlate secured to the upper face of the swing etree, and having an opening alining with the opening in the swingletree, and having its wall flanged, a housing secured to the swingletree and having resilient arms, an arm pivoted in the housing and frictionally engaging said resilient arms of the housing, said arm having its outer end flattened and formed into a spring-hook portion the free end of which is adapted to enter the openings in the escutcheon-plate and swingletree, and having a notch for engagement with the flanged Wall of the opening in the escutcheon-plate to secure'the same thereto.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GODFRIED LAUBE.

Witnesses:

HATTIE R. LAUBE, GROVER C. G. LAUBE. 

